• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

The Supreme Court, on Monday, refused to ease down the GRAP-4 anti-air pollution measures before the next hearing on December 5. The apex court noted that there must be a downward trend before the emergency action plan is relaxed, and it will determine this in the next hearing.

The bench, comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih, further asked the Chief Secretaries of NCR states to appear before it virtually over the 'non-compliance' of the air pollution norms. The Chief Secretaries of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan were asked to appear before the bench on December 5, news agency PTI reported.

ALSO READ: 'What Is Going On': Supreme Court Reacts Sharply To Senthil Balaji's Oath As Minister After Receiving Bail

“We find that none of NCR states – Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, and UP has reported compliance with the order regarding payment of subsistence allowance to construction workers. None of the states pointed out to us that anyone has been paid so far. We direct the chief secretaries of these states to remain present through video conferencing on the next date," the court said.

The top bureaucrats will have to appear through video-conferencing to inform it whether or not any compensation was paid to the construction workers who were without work owing to the restrictions, the agency added.

"There is hardly any implementation of stage 4 of GRAP to deal with air pollution in the national capital,” the bench said.

ALSO READ: Air Quality Index: What Is AQI And How Is It Calculated? Know About Main Pollutants And Causes Of Air Pollution | Explained

It also inquired about the number of officers deployed by the Delhi government to enforce restrictions, particularly the ban on trucks entering the national capital.

Senior advocate Shadan Farasat, representing the Delhi government, assured the court that allegations of non-compliance with GRAP restrictions would be examined. However, Farasat argued that a few isolated incidents could not be used to conclude that the entire city of 1.5 crore residents was disregarding the restrictions.